Epigenome-wide differences in pathology-free regions of multiple sclerosis-affected brains.

ABSTRACT: Using the Illumina 450K array and a stringent statistical analysis with age and gender correction, we report genome-wide differences in DNA methylation between pathology-free regions derived from human multiple sclerosis-affected and control brains. Differences were subtle, but widespread and reproducible in an independent validation cohort. The transcriptional consequences of differential DNA methylation were further defined by genome-wide RNA-sequencing analysis and validated in two independent cohorts. Genes regulating oligodendrocyte survival, such as BCL2L2 and NDRG1, were hypermethylated and expressed at lower levels in multiple sclerosis-affected brains than in controls, while genes related to proteolytic processing (for example, LGMN, CTSZ) were hypomethylated and expressed at high

SUBMITTER: Huynh JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3934491 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature